A stone tile layer adapted on surfaces of furniture, architectural components or the like

ABSTRACT

A stone tile layer adapted on surfaces of furniture, architectural components or the like comprising a top layer consisting of configured stone tile pieces cast or adhesively bonded in place by a bonding material reinforced with a reinforcement means, characterized in that said bonding material becomes itself the base layer serving as a backing frame of said top layer, and at the same time as filler filling up the gaps in between tiles.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates in general to stone craft and more particularly to an improved stone tile layer adapted on surfaces of furniture, architectural components or the like.

[0002] It is well known in the art to which this invention appertains that a stone tile layer has its stone tiles being inlaid and adhesively bonded integrally on a carcass or underlying base material that is usually made of wood, though other suitable material may be adapted as desired. This is the conventional way of tile attachment adopted in the stone craft industry that has to be improved due to unwanted tile detachment tendencies especially when the final product is exposed to an environment that is subjected to changing temperatures. Varying temperatures, say, from hot to cold climate or from tropical to temperate zone climate, would cause certain level of contraction or expansion in the substance of the wood carcass resulting to surface area movements that would eventually break the bonding effect, thus detaching the stone tile pieces from the carcass or simply causing crack occurrences especially along tile gaps.

[0003] For reference to other prior art teachings on laminated tile product of the conventional type, attention is also directed to Owens U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,062,913 and 4,931,331 that disclose a ceramic substrate, and Ehrhart et.a. U.S. Pat. No. 5,362,560 that teaches a composite tile with pressure-sensitive layer.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0004] The present invention seeks to overcome the shortcoming of the prior art by providing an improved stone tile layer adapted on surfaces of furniture, architectural components or the like that does not utilize a separate carcass on which the stone tile pieces are inlaid and adhesively bonded. The bonding material or binder which is usually resin-based is itself the one made as the base layer by casting process wherein the stone tile pieces are pre-inlaid onto a mold before pouring-in the bonding material. Reinforcement is provided in form of fiber matting to strengthen the base layer and to prevent crack tendencies that would most likely occur in joint sections between stone tile pieces.

[0005] It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide an improved stone tile layer adapted on surfaces of furniture, architectural components or the like that has its bonding material being made as the underlying layer cast in place onto pre-arranged or pre-inlaid stone tile pieces, eliminating the use of a separate carcass or base layer.

[0006] Another object thereof is to provide an improved stone tile layer adapted on surfaces of furniture, architectural components or the like that is capable of withstanding temperature changes in the environment without stone tile detachment and/or cracking tendencies.

[0007] Still another object thereof is to provide an improved stone tile layer adapted on surfaces of furniture, architectural components or the like that has high durability, flexibility and strength factor when applied to its intended usage.

[0008] Yet another object thereof is to provide an improved stone tile layer adapted on surfaces of furniture, architectural components or the like that can be manufactured in an economical and easy manner, so that venturing into business with it could be an assurance for a market success.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009] Other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully understood and appreciated upon reading the following detailed description which is made in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:

[0010]FIG. 1 is a plan view of the present invention that adapts a tile design arrangement which is for illustrative purposes only; and

[0011]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] Referring now to the drawing in which like reference numerals designate the same parts or elements all throughout the succeeding description, there is shown in FIG. 1 an improved stone tile layer adapted on surfaces of furniture, architectural components or the like generally designated by reference numeral 10, comprising a top layer 11 consisting of stone tile pieces 12 that adjacently arranged or configured and integrally bonded together through casting process by a binder or bonding material 13 that is preferably resin-based such as polyester resin. This bonding material is applied onto the bottom sides of the pre-arranged tile pieces to adhesively fill up the tile gaps and form a base layer 14 serving as a backing frame or carcass, and as filler filling up the gaps in between tiles. Reinforcing means 15, preferably in the form of fiber matting or other suitable reinforcing material, is provided to said base layer 14 to further strengthen its hold and bonding effect on the tile pieces. Though without the carcass, the present utility is at par or even better in terms of strength and durability as compared to the conventional stone tile construction with a carcass because the said base layer 13 has the properties of a hardened resin-based material that has its strength equally at par or even higher than that of wood. Insofar as the resistance to climate or surrounding temperature changes is concerned, this resin-based layer 14 is much better than the wooden carcass, thus tile distortion, breakage, tile cracking and detachment tendencies are prevented.

[0013] For aesthetic purposes, the top layer 11 may embody any forms or designs for its exposed surfaces such as a smooth or rough finish, mosaic or plain design applied to the tile arrangement, etc. The tile pieces 12 can be of irregular-cut shape, polygonal shape, or any shapes or configurations as may be desired.

[0014] Other embodiments or modifications made within the spirit and teaching of the invention must be construed to fall within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A stone tile layer adapted on surfaces of furniture, architectural components or the like comprising a top layer consisting of configured stone tile pieces adhesively bonded in place by a reinforced bonding material characterized in that said bonding material becomes itself the base layer serving as a backing frame of said top layer, and at the same time as filler filling up the gaps in between tiles.
 2. A stone tile layer according to claim 1 wherein said reinforced bonding material is resin-based.
 3. A stone tile layer according to claim 2 wherein said bonding material is polyester resin.
 4. A stone tile layer according to claim 1 wherein said reinforced bonding material has a reinforcement means in the form of a fiber matting.
 5. A stone tile layer according to claim 1 wherein said reinforced bonding material has a reinforcement means that is made of wire mesh.
 6. A stone tile layer according to claim 1 wherein said top layer has a smooth finish.
 7. A stone tile layer according to claim 1 wherein said top layer has a rough finish wherein the tile pieces are arranged in a classical-looking mosaic design.
 8. A stone tile layer according to claim 1 wherein said tile pieces having irregular shape.
 9. A stone tile layer according to claim 1 wherein said tile pieces having regular polygonal shape. 